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These Illinois cities are most affordable for home buyers: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

ILLINOIS (WQRF) – Affordability continues to be a top concern for home buyers across the country, but those buyers might get the most bang for their buck in certain Illinois cities.A new report from WalletHub suggests several cities in Illinois are some of the most affordable cities for home buyers across the country. Some of those cities even rank among the top 10.To come to its findings, WalletHub used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Association of Realtors, the Council for Community and Economic Research, and the Insurance Information Institute, to determine city ranking in the report. It compared 300 U.S. cities across 10 key metrics, including housing affordability, insurance costs, real estate taxes, and appreciation rates, among others. (See how they weighted each of the 10 criteria in their methodology here.)Lastly, WalletHub found each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate overall scores and used them to rank the cities. (Scores for each cit...

What happened to Gadzooks, the iconic mall store of the 1990s?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Remember the black-walled, neon-lit stores that populated so many malls back in the 1980s and 90s? It was the clothing store with the goofy name: Gadzooks. The Carrollton, Texas-originated retailer was known for selling lots of T-shirts and for having a full-size Volkswagen Beetle replica inside every store.It's probably not news to you that you don't see Gadzooks stores anymore — and you likely haven't since the mid-2000s. But did you know that there's one business decision widely believed to be the teen fashion retailer's downfall? Does Radio Shack still exist? In 2003, Gadzooks — which was founded in 1984 — decided to change its branding after two fiscal years of losses (around $62 million, according to the company's bankruptcy filing). To refresh the brand, the company decided to stop carrying men's clothing and dedicate its stores to women's clothing only, particularly the "juniors" category for women ages 16-22.Gadzooks wrote that it hoped the shift would help th...

Person left with life-threatening injuries after being struck by train in south Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person was critically injured after a train struck a pedestrian in south Austin Saturday morning, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.Officials said the incident occurred at 10:04 a.m. near the area of South Lamar Boulevard and Treadwell Street.ATCEMS medics, Austin Fire and the Austin Police Department responded and were on the scene.Medics declared a trauma alert and were treating and extricating an adult patient.The patient was taken to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries, according to ATCEMS.Officials said several railroad crossings were blocked south of the location. Travelers should expect continued traffic delays in the area due to the train blocking crossings.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

New fire, EMS station opens in west Austin, Travis County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, Austin’s newest joint Fire/EMS station in west Austin and Travis County held its grand opening.Austin Fire and Austin-Travis County EMS held the official grand opening for AFD Station #52 and ATCEMS Station #41 on Westlake Drive, near Loop 360. The joint station was one of the locations approved in 2018 by the Austin City Council to help growing areas cut down on response times. The station will also help with wildfire response in the area between the Bull Creek Greenbelt and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve."This means so much for us, in order to be able to significantly serve an area of Travis County that has seen unprecedented growth,” Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said.AFD Station #52 and ATCEMS Station #41 opened May 26. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)AFD Station #52 and ATCEMS Station #41 opened May 26. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)AFD Station #52 and ATCEMS Station #41 opened May 26. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)AFD Station #52 and ATCEMS Station #41 opened...

Central Texas helicopter hospital transfer operation shuts down amid money problems

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Just before Memorial Day weekend, a Central Texas air evacuation base, used to get people to the hospital faster, is closing down for good.The Air Evac Lifeteam in La Grange has been serving patients within a 150-mile radius for 25 years. Its seemingly abrupt closure is blamed on not enough people using the team's services and decreasing reimbursement. That's according to the Fayette County Office of Emergency Management. Air Evac Lifeteam working with La Grange first responders. (Photo by: Joshua Vandever).Fayette County EMS director Joshua Vandever said the operation has been struggling for some time. "We have lost another healthcare resource that was valuable to our community," Vandever said. "In this day and age, it is getting harder and harder to be a healthcare provider. Reimbursement from insurance has not kept up with the rapid rise in costs for equipment and personnel. Our industry is having a harder time recruiting doctors, nurses, EMS professiona...

What's the hottest it's ever been in Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Summer doesn't officially begin for a little while longer (June 21), but you may already be feeling the heat. As KXAN News Meteorologist Nick Bannin explains, even though summer doesn't begin on the calendar until June 21 (called "astronomical summer"), temperature-wise, the summer season is set to begin June 1 and last through August 31. This is known as "meteorological summer." Texas summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin? "The dates of meteorological seasons, unlike astronomical ones, don’t fluctuate each year and instead include whole months in groups of three," says Bannin. "This makes it easier to compare the same season with previous years, since they all start and end at the same time."In Texas, August is typically the hottest month. But you can guarantee there will be some scorchers before then. How students can get into Typhoon Texas for free But have you ever wondered: What was the hottest temperature ever recorded in Texas? The hottest maximum ...

Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez sent down to Triple-A Norfolk after third rough May start

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

After his third rough start in May and a 7.35 ERA in 10 appearances this season, top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez has been sent down to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles announced Saturday.Rodriguez, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, began the year in Norfolk but was quickly promoted. He debuted against the Texas Rangers on April 5 and pitched five innings, allowing two runs.The 23-year-old had other productive starts, including two straight in April in which he did not allow a run, but he struggled in May, posting an 11.14 ERA over five starts in the month.Left-handed relief pitcher Keegan Akin was recalled from Norfolk in a corresponding move.After two poor performances recently, the Orioles’ pitching department identified ways Rodriguez was tipping his pitches. The 6-foot-5 fireballer altered his stance with runners on base and lowered his glove, a “minor mechanical adjustment,” he said, “just to help me conceal the baseball more.”Aga...

Free Lowertown Sounds concert series starts June 1 in Mears Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

Nur-D, the New Standards and Run Westy Run are among the acts booked to play the free Lowertown Sounds concert series, which starts Thursday, June 1 at St. Paul’s Mears Park.The series, which runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m. most Thursdays through Aug. 24, features more than 20 bands.Guests are welcome to bring blankets and chairs and enjoy food and drink from a rotating mix of food trucks and local craft beverage-makers, including Utepils Brewing, Wabasha Brewing, Brick Oven Bus, Adam’s Gyros, Hometown Creamery and Sambusa Express. For the full food truck schedule, see lowertownsounds.com.The concert lineup includes:June 1: Good Morning Bedlam and Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello.June 8: Turn Turn Turn and Danger Pins.June 15: Kiss the Tiger and Creeping Charlie.June 22: Nur-D and Malamanya.July 13: The New Standards and New Primitives.July 20: Craig Clark Band and JoJo Green.July 27: Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers and Palms Psalm.Aug. 3: Jaedyn James and Twin Citizen.Aug. 10: Salsa ...

St. Louis sorority gearing up for 39th Miss Fashionetta event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- On Sunday, May 28, 2023, the 39th Miss Fashionetta Scholarship Cotillion will take place at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis. The event is set to unfold at the Arch in Downtown St. Louis. One of the 13 contestants will claim the title of Miss Fashionetta 2023.Spearheaded by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gamma Omega Chapter and the Ivy Alliance Foundation, the 39th annual Fashionetta Scholarship Cotillion showcases the efforts of women. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® holds the distinction of being the oldest black Greek-lettered sorority in the United States, while the Gamma Omega Chapter stands as the third-oldest graduate chapter. Betherny Williams, serving as the President of the Gamma Omega Chapter, shares the news about the forthcoming event. Joining her as co-host for the evening is Kelley Hoskins.

Nuggets GM Calvin Booth: Tim Connelly, Masai Ujiri helped Denver reach championship doorstep

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:56 GMT

Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth is more interested in doling out credit than taking any.The first-year GM knows the foundation of his team’s success was laid well before he took over last summer, and in some instances, before he even arrived as the assistant GM in 2017.That shouldn’t, and won’t, minimize the shrewd work Booth did in putting the finishing touches on what could be a championship roster. His peers recognized his contributions when he finished tied for third in executive of the year voting. But, as an executive who prides himself on learning from the past, Booth is savvy enough to understand what he inherited.He saw firsthand what former team president Tim Connelly did in helping construct the foundation of a championship roster, building the culture from the ground up before his abrupt departure to Minnesota last summer. Even a version of the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope trade, which Booth ultimately executed shortly after assuming the job, was under consideration bef...